river road.

NOT IN A MILLION YEARS

Has it actually been four months since I left the tumblr world for what I imagined to be brighter and greener pastures? The wonderland of the iphone and instagram has been a haven for visual inspiration the last few months, but has left little to my journalistic brain. For years, I have written entries on paper or online space to chronicle the daily grind and unusual happenings. I suppose real real life has just taken charge. 

I am grateful for the summer months that have passed, and autumn just around the corner. I have been challenged by new and exciting work, rekindled my love of music and playing guitar and have met some amazing souls. I hope that the upcoming year is as remarkable as the last twelve months gone by. A year since I returned from Australia, and the same amount of time since my town was devastated by an F3Tornado. When we pool our resources, great things emerge, and I look forward to building some serious forces and trekking into new territory. Onward and upward my lovelies.

Photo credit: Qristina Bachand, Kensington Market, Toronto

This illustrations are killing me. Who knew Tepees could be so animated. 

(Source: shelterpub.com)

EATS

Friday the 13th La Carnita Ltd. hosted UNO, a Mexican food and art show down at Toronto Evergreen Brickworks. I was completely floored at the mass amount of people who attended the event, and the line ups that encompassed the historic buildings late into the night. After a long wait in line for Fish Tacos, we were finally rewarded with 9 of  pop-up chef’s most delicious creations. Within moments, I devoured my share (and then some) and was craving more. Pints of beer supplied by Muskoka Brewery had to fill the void..and we carried onto the night and admired some amazing artwork submitted by street art artists from around the country. 

Word on the street is that La Carnita is hoping to establish a permanent venue for their pop-up shop. Hopefully we call get a chance to appreciate the fine cooking of the chefs @ UNO in the not so distant future.

Cheers!

This morning I met a woman named Marion while traveling on the subway from Davisville to Yonge-Bloor. There were no trains running south and I decided to take this wonderful elderly woman by the arm and guide her above ground to the connecting buses. There was so much about Marion that reminded me of my grandmother Bunny who passed away almost three years ago. Her hair, skin colour, wrinkles, laugh and hard of hearing was all too familiar. As I waited with Marion on the sidewalk for the next available bus I quickly thought I should take down her cellphone number, in the off chance we should meet for tea. I hope she response to my text. Yes, this 80+ woman is ahead of her game and text messages. I suppose I will just have to wait and see. *This picture is of my grandmother Bunny, off a found-roll of film that was in my chest of drawers for about a decade. Recently developed and presented some wonderful surprises.

This morning I met a woman named Marion while traveling on the subway from Davisville to Yonge-Bloor. There were no trains running south and I decided to take this wonderful elderly woman by the arm and guide her above ground to the connecting buses. There was so much about Marion that reminded me of my grandmother Bunny who passed away almost three years ago. Her hair, skin colour, wrinkles, laugh and hard of hearing was all too familiar. As I waited with Marion on the sidewalk for the next available bus I quickly thought I should take down her cellphone number, in the off chance we should meet for tea. I hope she response to my text. Yes, this 80+ woman is ahead of her game and text messages. I suppose I will just have to wait and see.

*This picture is of my grandmother Bunny, off a found-roll of film that was in my chest of drawers for about a decade. Recently developed and presented some wonderful surprises.

TOCOOK.

On a day like today, I want to get lost in some serious cooking in a rustic kitchen like this. Fresh ingredients, lots of hot tea and some tall dark and handsome assistant at hand. Too much to ask?

(Source: awelltraveledwoman)

SNAVE

I’ve been neglecting my blog as of late, and I’m sure nobody has noticed except me. A year ago or at least someday close to that I was starting the planning stages for my trip to Australia. I had booked a ticket and was growing more excited about my flight around the world. There was somebody in my life giving me high levels of inspiration and motivation to finish my then corporate job and get ready for the open road ahead. It is quite amazing what happens and changes in a span of twelve months. I feel like a little water snake amongst the big ocean waves [even though I know they don’t live there]. I’ve seen some amazing places this year, met the most spectacular people and I am finally enjoying my native land. Looks like our Canadian summer has arrived after what was definitely not winter. The birds are in full force and I have already spent some time in jean cut offs and tilted my face to the glorious sun. I look forward to seeing what the next months have in store for me. Hopefully a lot of beautiful days at the markets, picnics all over the city, taking plenty of photos and spending quality time with loved ones close to home. Here’s to taking things day by day, and letting the world around us fall into place.

LET’S TALK COOL.

Is this not the best thing to be found in a while? Okay, maybe I’ve just been out of the realm of cool. Today I lost myself in the blog world twice today, and can’t be happier. Found via. sfgirlbybay and then over to woodandfaulk. Great places for inspiration.

Now let’s go pack our lunch! Picnic anyone?

PUT A RING ON IT

A beautiful mature woman came into the shop this morning and I was immediately drawn to her left hand. She had a stunning ring on her finger so my curious self asked her about it. Turns out, she custom designed the ring for her second marriage to a wonderful man. After some time hunting for a unique ring she marched over to Birks and had this one designed. She took it off and let me try it on. How amazing is that? The lower one is the actual wedding band, and the diamond being hugged by the other two bands is the engagement (which leads me to the last 40 minutes). I was trying to figure out the setting type for the diamond, which appears to be an invisible setting, but I know this is incorrect. So alas, I have spent a while looking at some of the most interesting wedding rings around. Something I have never done, well, okay maybe when I was in lust with some boy and wondered what my ring would look like. There is a lot to choose from out there, and I can understand why designing your own ring would be that much more satisfying. 

Before the woman left the shop she came in close to me and said “hopefully someday you’ll meet the man of your dreams.” What a romantic. I love these days.


Even though I’m not all for the mushy-gushy Valentine’s Day stuff, I hope that anyone reading has a really sweet day. Lots of love!

XENOPHILE

Noun: an individual who is attracted to foreign peoples, manners, or cultures.

These are two of my oldest subjects from my trip to Cuba last spring. Their faces amaze me, and I would have loved to hear their story. One more reason to learn Spanish.

Copywrite: Elizabeht McManus, 2011